Fifteen Chinese youth volunteers departed Shanghai for Laos Wednesday to offer a six-month service in education, medical care and agricultural technology.

The team of volunteers, the fifth of its kind since 2001, includes 11 male volunteers and four female volunteers with an average age of 28. The oldest volunteer is 39 years old and the youngest is 20.

Among the 15 members, 12 are from Shanghai and three specialized in agricultural technology were recruited from southwest China's Yunnan Province.

China has sent a total of 54 volunteers to Laos since the country started the overseas service program in 2001.

Since 2002, Shanghai has undertaken the annual task of selecting and sending volunteers to Laos. So far, the city has sent 47 volunteers.

Source: Xinhua